• Policy and Research Highlights
• International and Legal Developments
• News and Commentary
• Member and Project Spotlight
• Event Highlights and Opportunities
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 Policy and Research Highlights

New Book From Member of Steering Group

Ageism in Swiss Banking: Why Extended Working Lives Remain a Challenge

Switzerland has one of the highest employment rates for people aged 55–64 across the OECD. Yet the government is still pushing for longer working lives, including a major 2022 pension reform (AVS21) that reduced early retirement options.

This article explores how these policies play out in the Swiss banking sector. Through case studies in two banks, the authors show how both institutionalised ageism (embedded in systems and practices) and internalised ageism (accepted by employees themselves) hold back real progress on “age management” policies.

The findings highlight the importance of looking beyond national policy to the day-to-day organisational and cultural factors that shape whether extended working lives are truly achievable.

 Read the full article here: Institutionalised and internalised ageism in Swiss banking

Ageism in Wales: Insights from a Rapid Review

The Centre for Adult Social Care Research (CARE) at Cardiff University recently hosted an undergraduate intern Mr Harry Lightfoot for 8 weeks. Harry is a third-year student in politics and international relations. Working with Professor Paul Willis and in collaboration with the Welsh Government’s Ministerial Advisory Forum on Ageing, Harry undertook a desktop review of research literature on ageism in Wales and in the wider UK. You can read the full report here*. Below Harry talks more about what he found.

Over the summer I interned with CARE. My project was a literature review of ageism in Wales, and we worked alongside the Ministerial Advisory Forum on Ageing (MAFA) in the Welsh Government, with the findings from the literature review aiming to support a funding bid for an anti-ageist campaign in Wales. It was great to be able to contribute meaningfully to such an important project and policy area and work within such a supportive and friendly team.

The review involved a total of 2231 documents, which were then filtered down to 75 documents in the report. This revealed many interesting findings from a wide range of aspects of older people’s lives. Here are some stand-out findings:

• Ageism reduces lifespans: people with positive self-perceptions of ageing lived 7.6 years longer than people with negative perceptions. Most negative perceptions were internalised ageist stereotypes.
• Ageism worsens unemployment: older workers are 21.2% less likely to get an interview and are offered jobs that pay 15.7% less.
• Retirees contribute heavily to the economy: older people perform significantly more volunteering, informal adult care and caring for children. The Welsh Government found that older volunteers contribute an equivalent of 3.1% of Welsh GDP through hours worked. Therefore, older people support the economy even after leaving work.
• Age discrimination increases the risk of clinical frailty*: older people who experience age discrimination are at greater risk of frailty, as they feel marginalised and socialise or exercise less.
• Older people do not receive equal legal protection: assault based on age is not considered a hate crime, carrying a lesser sentence (6 months) than assaults based on other protected characteristics like race or gender (2 years). Older domestic abuse survivors are also subjected to a ‘welfare-centric’ approach which denies them access to criminal or civil justice.
• We need to redefine the ageing process: we must define older people not by their prior achievements but by what they can achieve in the future. Promoting resilience is essential for healthy ageing, older people must be supported to continue their lifestyle and passions as they age.

More generally, I found that whilst the Welsh Government has made significant progress in policy and creating age-friendly organisations, success cannot be achieved without a fundamental change in our attitudes. Ageism remains broadly socially acceptable, unlike sexism or racism. Campaigns are necessary to raise awareness of ageism in society and prevent the internalisation of ageism in younger people. We must also form renewed intergenerational bonds through socialisation and leisure with people of different ages.

Alongside producing my report, I was also supported by the Welsh Government and CARE to communicate its findings. This involved a presentation to staff within the Welsh Government halfway through my project, and a larger presentation to Councillors and other government staff at the end of my internship.

* Please note this is a desktop literature review completed within 8 weeks by one person and while sticking closely to established methods of review was not systematic in approach. Thanks to Cardiff University for funding the internship and Rachel Lewis and Emma Harney from the Older People’s Rights Branch, Welsh Government for supporting Harry with this project.

Beyond Biology: Ageism and Care Barriers in Peru

International and Legal Developments

Social Protection as a Human Right: UN Report on Ageism and Work

Claudia Mahler, the UN Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of all Human Rights by Older Persons, has published a thematic report, Intersection between older persons’ right to social protection and their right to work A/HRC/60/24, which may be of interest to our members.

It reminds us that older persons who retire are at risk of poverty and highlights the importance of the link between access to the labour market and enjoyment of social protection. For instance, where non-contributory social protection does not exist or is inadequate,  older persons will seek to remain in or re-enter the labour market. However, there are many obstacles to longer working lives, including ageism, which is one of the main hurdles and affects older women more than older men.

The Independent Expert paints a vivid picture of inequalities experienced by older persons in the labour market and in social protection worldwide and shines a spotlight on groups experiencing intersecting forms of discrimination. She recommends a plethora of measues by States to combat ageism and that anti-discrimination laws be strengthened to ensure that older persons are not discriminated against, on the basis of their age, in these fields.

Her report concludes that social protection systems tend to fail to meet the needs of older persons in most countries, and the labour market continues to systemically discriminate against older persons. Importantly, it reminds us that social protection is not a form of charity or a privilege but is a human right.

Read the full report here

EU U-Turn: Anti-Discrimination Directive Back on the Table

Following a petition signed by 33,000 people and 14 EU Member States, the European Commission has reversed its decision to withdraw the draft horizontal equal treatment directive from its work programme. The draft directive, once adopted and implemented, would prohibit age and other forms of discrimination outside employment across the EU.

 Read more about this here

News and Commentary

Age Without Limits: Our impact in 2024

Novel approach helps build intergenerational connections as children learn about dementia

 Member and Project Spotlight

Vale 50+ Strategy Forum

Challenging Ageism: Why Older People Need Social Work Support

The British Association of Social Workers’ special interest group on Social Work and Ageing is working with social workers, experts by experience, and allies to challenge ageism and strengthen social work support in later life. We consider that no older person should have to give up their home because of social care needs without having access to the support of a Named Social Worker.

Approximately 124,000 older people go into care homes each year in England alone. Often they don’t get access to good help.

• Most people do not know how to access advice.
• Nearly half of older people do not qualify for financial help and arrange care themselves; over 75% of these have dementia.
• Some people are discharged from hospital into care that becomes permanent because advice is not available.

Social workers have a professional qualification that includes social care law. They know how to uphold rights, including when people may lack mental capacity to make a decision. They can assess risk and help people remain at home where possible.

Above all, they focus on people’s wishes, so they stay in control of what happens.

We encourage everyone to advocate for social work for older people when they most need it.

 Read the full piece here

Care & Repair Cymru: Safe, Independent Living for Older People

 Event Highlights and Opportunities

Growing Older in a Changing World – CABS 30th Anniversary

Celebrate the UN International Day of Older People with The Open University’s Centre for Ageing and Biographical Studies (CABS). Join us for three virtual panel discussions (Oct 1–3) exploring 30 years of gerontological research, practice, and policy—and looking ahead to the future of ageing studies.

Programme:

• How has gerontological research, practice and policy changed society? – Wed 1 Oct, 14:00–15:30 BST

• Current trends & challenges in gerontology – Thu 2 Oct, 10:00–11:30 BST

• What’s next for gerontology? – Fri 3 Oct, 14:00–15:30 BST (with ERA, BSG’s Emerging Researchers in Ageing)

 Register here: Eventbrite link

Expect engaging discussions, global perspectives, and opportunities to connect with researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and older people themselves.

Supporting Later-Life Research Careers: Workshop at Vitae Conference

Dr Lesley Boyd and Prof Inma Alvarez are convening an interactive workshop on Supporting Later Life Research Career Trajectoriesat the forthcoming Vitae Conference in September. Vitae is the UK research development organisation. Lesley presented the methodology and background of the associated collaborative action research project in development at the last BSG Conference. She is an Affiliated Researcher and ECR Lead with the UK Open University Centre for the Study of Global Development, and Inma is a currently a faculty Director of Postgraduate Research Studies. They are also developing an OU funded systematic literature review on later life doctoral completion.

 Useful Resources

See Me, Value Older Age: Challenging Ageism in Wales

Shining a Light on Workplace Discrimination: 2025 Stats

Our member, Alison Herbert, (Research Affiliate, Irish Centre for Social Gerontology and ORA: Older Researchers on Ageing SIG) has shared this link to statistics from CIPHR which we thought those of you interested in work place discrimination and ageism would find of value.

Alison says they illustrate the importance of asking the ‘right’ questions to reveal the dark corners.

 Workplace discrimination stats in 2025: Discrimination at work

Ageing in a Transforming World

Alison has also drawn our attention to this article: Ageing in a transforming world: insights for future research and policy from the 27th Nordic Congress of Gerontology.

It focuses on ageism, climate change and health.